Student Arrested After Attack at University of Michigan Event
The confrontation began at a campus table displaying questions about Islam and the West. Video shows the student arguing with people at the table and clapping close to one man’s face. She then approached Benichou, who asked what would happen if the student dressed the same way in Iran, and pushed her to the ground.
Bystanders intervened, and campus police officers restrained and handcuffed the student. As officers escorted her to a police vehicle, she continued shouting at Benichou and threatened to kill her.
University of Michigan police said officers responded shortly before 5 p.m. to an event that did not have a permit. They witnessed the student assault a woman who was not affiliated with the university. Officers detained the student, completed processing and let her go while awaiting approval of a warrant. Police said no injuries were reported; Benichou’s manager said she suffered a lower-back injury.
Benichou said she was receiving care and would be okay, and said she intended to press charges. A conservative activist group described the student as a supporter of Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who is facing Republican Mike Rogers in the November 3 election. The student has not been publicly identified by police.
Campus Political Violence Must Not Define Michigan’s Senate Race
An assault at a University of Michigan event is being pulled into Michigan’s Senate contest, even though the student involved has not been publicly identified by police. Video shows her pushing conservative influencer Liz Benichou to the ground after a heated exchange, then threatening her while officers took the student into custody.
The incident began at a table displaying questions about Islam and the West. The student argued with people there before Benichou asked what would happen if the student dressed the same way in Iran. Bystanders stepped in, and campus police restrained and handcuffed the student.
Police said officers arrived shortly before 5 p.m. in response to an event without a permit, witnessed the assault and released the student pending warrant authorization. They said no injuries were reported, while Benichou’s manager said she had a lower-back injury. Benichou said she was receiving care and intended to press charges.
A conservative activist group claimed the student supported Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who faces Republican Mike Rogers on November 3. That allegation should not turn an individual’s actions into a verdict on a candidate or his supporters. The known facts are an assault, threats and an arrest—not a public identification of the student by police.
Violence at Michigan Campus Puts Political Intolerance on Display
A campus political event ended with an arrest after a student shoved conservative influencer Liz Benichou to the ground and continued threatening her as police took her away. The episode is a stark reminder that disagreement over politics and religion cannot justify violence.
Video shows the student first confronting people at a table displaying questions about Islam and the West. After Benichou asked what would happen if the student dressed the same way in Iran, the student pushed her down. Bystanders intervened before campus officers restrained and handcuffed the student.
Police said officers responding shortly before 5 p.m. to an event without a permit witnessed the assault. The student was processed and released pending warrant authorization. Police reported no injuries; Benichou’s manager said she suffered a lower-back injury. Benichou said she was receiving care and intended to press charges.
A conservative activist group characterized the student as a supporter of Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who faces Republican Mike Rogers on November 3. Police have not publicly identified her. The allegation does not establish that El-Sayed or his campaign had any role in the attack, but the violence deserves scrutiny regardless of the student’s political affiliation.
Reported by Daily Mail US, The Daily Wire, New York Post, Newsweek, Hot Air, Breitbart, The Blaze, FOX 2 Detroit.
